THE TEAM OF MENTORS

Bryan McKrell is a Senior Coach in our college counseling division based out of our Sacramento area office. In high school, Bryan excelled in both academics and athletics, earning various academic and athletic awards. No stranger to the college selection process, he applied to over 21 colleges and took four official and countless unofficial recruiting visits before ultimately deciding to focus on academics. He attended Harvard College, where he graduated with a degree in Government.

At ESM, Bryan works directly with students, helping them to find the college that is the right fit for their individual strengths, goals, and interests. He is ESM's "interview prep" guru, mentoring students as they prepare for college and job interviews.

Brittany was always a hardworking and dedicated student, who balanced a love for the arts and academics by participating in orchestra and graduating high school with a 4.0. In high school she took eight AP classes, including five her senior year.

From an early age Brittany loved science and she participated in the Kern County Science Fair almost every year from the fourth grade and the California State Science Fair twice. She continued her love for science by studying genetics at UC Davis, where she earned her BS in 2009.

Brittany currently tutors Sacramento area students in a wide range of subjects, including the SAT, ACT, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, physics, biology, statistics, and English.

She enjoys teaching others and is working towards earning her teaching credential to teach high school science in hopes of inspiring future generations.

Tyler Guse graduated from Yale University with a bachelor's degree in Economics. At Yale, Tyler played four years of varsity soccer and was the recipient of both the Robert Holliday "Unsung Hero" Award as well as the Jack Marshall Award for Team Spirit, Loyalty and Dedication. He was also elected and served as Vice President of Sigma Nu fraternity. Upon graduation in 2009, Tyler worked in New York City as a consultant, training Wall Street professionals on financial modeling and portfolio management. He moved to San Francisco in 2011 where he worked for a financial software firm and specialized in product demonstration and contract negotiation.

In 2013 Tyler took a hiatus from work to follow his dream of backpacking across Asia. He taught English in multiple countries during the course of his trip, and upon returning home to the United States was determined to return to Asia and pursue a career in education. Tyler's passion is to share his experience in the college selection process and help families achieve their academic and personal goals.

A graduate of Middleton High School outside of Madison, WI. Tyler was one of only five people in the United States named as a High School All-American and Academic All-American. He was also named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-America Soccer Team.

Although no longer playing soccer, Tyler has maintained his passion for athletics and fitness. He is a certified yoga teacher who teaches classes for charity in both New York City and San Francisco.

David Campos is a Stanford graduate and energetic educator, who enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities. He graduated from Stanford with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, making the honor roll every quarter. While at Stanford, David received a research grant to conduct social psychology studies in the Graduate School of Business and was awarded the Charles Warren Kendrick Scholarship in Psychology for two years. He has gained admittance into some of the most competitive colleges in California, including the University of Southern California, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego.

David has tutored students for the past 10+ years in Spanish, English, and various levels of math. He completed a Master of Science degree in Counseling (focus in career and school issues) at California State University, Sacramento. After working with many students from a wide variety of backgrounds, he fully understands the importance of preparing students for the reality of the college application process and for what it takes to help them realize their long-term personal and career goals. He is passionate about the field of college counseling, perfecting the trade daily in his many roles, and relates to each client at an individual level.

After graduating in the top 5% of his class from Northport High School in New York, Ted attended Tulane University where he majored in Political Science and minored in English.

Ted played competitive ice hockey on all-Long Island select teams before playing for his high school team. Ted played tournaments in Lake Placid, home of the 1980 Winter Olympics. The spirit of the Olympics encouraged him to study politics because of the historical significance surrounding those particular Olympic games. Ted won academic scholarships from both the Suffolk County Ice Hockey League and his high school team organization, which helped him attend Tulane.

Ted brought his leadership abilities and winning mentality from athletics to the classroom, where he challenged students in post-Katrina New Orleans by working as a Teaching Assistant for AP English and AP Statistics classes in public high schools. He served as a tour guide for the office of admissions at Tulane and has led student panels to prospective students and their families. Ted also enjoys playing basketball and has led camps, clinics, and training programs for aspiring players.

Ted tutors in SAT, ACT, US history, US government and politics, world history, comparative politics, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, statistics, Spanish and chemistry.

Christian Nathaniel Lawrence was born in southern California but lived in Trinidad and Tobago for ten years of his childhood. This experience dramatically shaped his joy of engaging people from varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

At age 16 he moved back to Redlands, CA with his family and finished junior and senior years of high school before heading to Biola University for undergraduate studies in mathematics. Christian considered both engineering and medicine, but found his calling in math education instead. After graduating he taught math at Glen A. Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, CA for five years.

“Teaching high school math for five years was very rewarding both as an academic mentor and as a life-mentor for so many students. Words cannot express how blessed I feel to have had the window in to and voice in so many young adults' lives through teaching in high school,” he said.

For the next step in his life Christian is studying to become an actuary, a mathematician for insurance companies. He joins ESM as an academic mentor as he prepares to take rigorous actuarial exams.

A graduate of UCLA's rigorous physiological sciences program, Ian has been tutoring for more than five years. In high school, Ian tutored high school algebra and calculus at Sacramento Country Day School.

Ian continued mentorship in college, working for Brighter Minds Tutoring as a subject tutor in math, biology, history, and English for students ranging from 5th graders to high school seniors.

Outside of academic mentorship, Ian has worked in a psychophysiology lab, studying behavioral patterns of schizophrenic patients and a cardiovascular perforning genotyping and DNA extraction/purification.

In his free time, Ian enjoys putting his physiological science knowledge to use by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising avidly, and training in mixed martial arts. He ultimately wants to become either a sports medicine physician or psychiatrist.

Wes Waterman graduated from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and with a concentration in Mathematics. Wes was captain of the National Champion Men’s Tennis team and also an All-American. Wes has always been a hard worker on and off the court and is dedicated to mentoring students to reach their full potential and get into the best “fit” University. Wes mentors students in the College Process, SAT/ACT exam preparation, the Athletic Recruiting Process, and various High School and AP Course.

Justin Scott earned his Masters in African studies from Yale University in 2013, focusing on energy and environmental issues in West Africa. He earned a Bachelors in English Literature from Georgetown University in 2010, where he also ran a unit of the largest student-run business in the world “Students of Georgetown, Inc.”

Justin comes to ESM with a long history of teaching, tutoring, and college counseling, from classrooms in Sub-Saharan Africa to one-on-one settings in Washington, DC. He has a track record of success in each of these locations. In 2011 one of his low-income mentees in DC earned a prestigious Gates scholarship to Northwestern University.

Most recently, Justin has worked as a teaching assistant and grader at UCLA and Yale. He knows what top colleges are looking for, and he knows how to maximize applicants’ potential. He has a passion for helping students edit their essays and develop their creative voices, and his broad skillset allows him to tutor students in subjects ranging from SAT and ACT prep to English, European history, and American history.

Ryan graduated from the University of California, San Diego, with a degree in biology.

He has always aspired to enter a career in which he can make a difference in the lives of those he works with. While preparing for graduate school, Ryan realized that teaching others strategies and better test ­taking techniques was rewarding not just for the students but also himself. He understands that students learn differently with unique strengths and goals and works with them so they can maximize their potential in a fun and engaging way.

He currently tutors Sacramento­ area students in the SAT, ACT, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, chemistry, physics, biology, and statistics. Ryan has a passion for helping others and is currently working towards a career in dentistry. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer, hiking, and watching his favorite sports.

Lawrence has been mentoring students of all ages and backgrounds for more than 10 years. He currently tutors students in various subjects, including the SAT, ACT, Algebra I &II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus AB and BC, AP Statistics, differential equations, chemistry, physics, and US History. Lawrence helps students use their own strengths and individual learning styles to be maximize their success both in and out of the classroom.

Upon graduating with high marks from Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, Lawrence moved across the country to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute on an academic scholarship. He eventually decided that New England winters were far too cold and finished his undergraduate studies at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. He is currently making use of his BS in Mechanical Engineering working for Valspar as a plant engineer. Lawrence is also concurrently working towards his MBA at UC Davis.

When he’s not working, you can find Lawrence playing basketball, tennis, climbing, or biking. He also likes to spend time outdoors with his two rescue dogs, Marv and Echo.

A graduate of the University of Oregon, Rodney worked as a biology teaching assistant and a private tutor in biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses while he was in college.

Rodney was born in Seoul, Korea but grew up in the Los Angeles area. He a passionate college football fan, especially of the Ducks. His own football career didn’t extend past high school but his experience coaching youth football led him to discover an affinity for teaching.

“I absolutely love seeing the ‘light bulb’ moment in students,” Rodney said. “I can definitely tell when they get it. As a tutor, I am a man on a mission and my mission is to take the student from a point of confusion to that very moment where everything makes sense.”

He hopes to become a dentist after teaching for a few years, and eventually a professor in dentistry. In his free time he enjoys playing indoor soccer and rock climbing and exploring the Portland music scene.

Nicholas Calvitti is a Sacramento native and a Jesuit High School graduate. He studied civil engineering at Santa Clara University and finished near the top of his class.

After graduation Nick returned to Sacramento and has tutored hundreds of students in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, calculus, chemistry, physics, and the SAT and ACT. Last spring Nick spent four months helping students at ESM’s Tokyo office.

In his free time, Nick enjoys playing soccer, playing pool and running. Although he loves being active, he keeps his schedule flexible to accommodate the busy and frequently changing schedules of his students.

His experience working with so many students has helped him learn how to make his teaching style as flexible as his schedule. Every student has different abilities and learning styles and Nick has been successful helping many students improve their competency in math and science.

Jennifer Rasmussen brings 15 years of college counseling experience at both public and private high schools to ESM, including starting counseling departments in the San Juan Unified and Sacramento City school districts.

Her passion, commitment, organizational abilities and patience are utilized every single day as a full time counselor at Sacramento’s Jesuit High School, a college preparatory school.

Jennifer chose the counseling field after experiencing first-hand how high schools do not always have the time to help every talented student achieve their goals. Her role in educating students and their families in college preparation and selection ensures that their decision will be well informed.

She is passionate about working with students to prepare them for their journey into college. She loves the in-depth college selection process and thoroughly enjoys mentoring students along the path to finding their right-fit college.

Jennifer is a graduate of CSU, Sacramento with a M.S. in counselor education and B.A. in childhood development. She also has a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential.

Jennifer’s energy and commitment to excellence is evident in her roles as a mother, wife and athlete. She enjoys competing in marathons and triathlons.

Born near Lake Tahoe, California, Lucas migrated north to the grey skies of Oregon at a young age and he has called the state home ever since. He was a successful student­athlete at Portland's Grant High School, playing on the basketball, baseball, and golf teams. His academic pursuits won out, however, and he landed at the University of Oregon. Lucas studied political science, computer science, journalism, and business administration and graduated in 2011.

Lucas works at a middle school in the Portland area, counseling at­risk students facing a wide variety of challenges. His passion for education is surpassed only by his desire to build that passion in his students, helping them identify goals that will carry them into college and beyond.

In his free time he remains a sports fanatic, devoting entirely too much energy to cheering on the Portland Trailblazers, Portland Timbers, and Oregon Ducks.

After graduating from Piedmont High School in 2005, Jehan attended Columbia University in New York where she was recruited in cross-country and track and field.

Jehan quickly abandoned her career as a distance runner to pursue research in economics, culminating with degrees in economics and philosophy and the school’s Romine Prize (awarded to the graduating senior with the best honors thesis).

Jehan has always felt that she had a future in teaching and research, and loves inspiring students to think critically. In particular, Jehan enjoys tutoring algebra, calculus, statistics, economics, writing, and the ACT and SAT.

With the hope of becoming a professor, Jehan began a Ph.D. program in Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis. After receiving her M.S., Jehan decided to switch fields to focus her research on a topic she was truly passionate about: behavioral economics and judgment and decision-making. She is now a Ph.D. student in social psychology at UC Davis, where her research focuses on understanding the cognitive biases underlying decision-making, with a focus on framing effects.

In her spare time, Jehan is an avid traveler, runner, Zumba enthusiast, and creative chef. She can normally be found on her front porch reading a novel or cuddling with her kitten Oscar.

Fabia completed an Ed.M. in interactive technology at Harvard University, and a BA at UC Berkeley in languages and symbolic systems, including Spanish, French, Italian, art history, and architecture. She was educated in Switzerland, Chile, England, France, Italy, and the United States and is multilingual and multicultural.

For 15 years, Fabia ran the Stanford University Overseas Studies Program in Latin America, after having spent many years traveling as a cultural and archeological excursion leader for Club Med in a number of countries. She has been translating and tutoring languages for about 30 years, and more recently in ESL, and in academic and professional writing in both English and Spanish. As a linguist, Fabia specializes in phonetic correction to improve pronunciation.

Born and raised in Orange County, CA, Brennan grew up traveling extensively and developed a unique, multi-cultural background. While in middle school his family relocated to Papua New Guinea to provide volunteer healthcare. This came on the heels of years of similar, shorter trips to countries such as Mexico, Belize and El Salvador.

Living abroad laid a great foundation for Brennan’s ability to relate to students from a variety of backgrounds and abilities. Besides graduating from high school with honors in the sciences, Brennan was an accomplished athlete and lettered in both basketball and volleyball.

Continuing his interest in science and health at the collegiate level, Brennan attended Biola University, graduating in 2012 with degrees in human biology and Biblical studies. During this time, he developed a passion for helping people discover their potential to have health and wellbeing through natural means, leading him to pursue a career as a Doctor of Chiropractic. He is currently in the midst of a four-year chiropractic graduate degree program.

Brennan has been tutoring students in English, science and math since 2008 and has continued to do so as he pursues his own advanced education. Brennan loves connecting with students and has an innate ability to meet students where they are and teach to their individual learning style. He excels at one-on-one instruction with students and has a genuine desire to understand their unique needs and personal goals and help them experience success.

Chelsea was one of those children who always knew her purpose in life. While every other kid in elementary school wanted to be a master chef or an astronaut, Chelsea knew she was destined to become a physician.

At the age of 16, Chelsea was given a full­ride scholarship to attend the University of California, Irvine as a Biomedical Engineer. A few years into her undergraduate career, Chelsea went rogue and found herself working in the music industry. She eventually realized that working at a record label was not the life she wanted to live and ventured back into the world of science and medicine.

Chelsea became the first person in her family to earn a college degree, graduating from UCI as a women’s studies/biological sciences double major. She was published in two medical journals, was a leader in the Phi Delta Epsilon premedical honor society, and was recognized as a philanthropist and altruist.

Currently, Chelsea is applying to medical school and aspires to become an endocrinologist.

She currently works at a hospital in Orange County and volunteers at the OC chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In her spare time, Chelsea has been training for a half marathon and recently joined the mixed martial arts community.

Given her diverse educational journey, Chelsea focuses mostly on SAT and ACT preparation but also tutors students in chemistry, physics, biology, pre­calculus, geometry, algebra, and writing.

Matthew's first tutoring experience came at ten years old when taught his left-handed brother to write a cursive "f." More recently, his tutoring specialties have been in math, writing, and physics. Mentoring and coaching students to get to the point where they can confidently say "I am good at math" makes tutoring rewarding for him as an instructor.

Matthew graduated from Piedmont High School in 2005 and immediately set his sights on a mathematics and English double major at California State University, Long Beach. Despite multiple professors and undergraduate advisers discouraging a double major in such dissimilar subjects, he was able to graduate Magna Cum Laude in December 2008, with honors in mathematics.

Matthew's passion for math led him to serve two terms as Math-Stat Student Association President in college. His other interests include physics, football, manufacturing, railroads, and juggling. The last of which made him one of the most recognized faces on the CSU, Long Beach campus during his time there.

Lexi first became fascinated with science and especially the human body during her introductory biology courses at California State University, Sacramento. Those experiences led her to major in biological sciences, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

During college she tutored other students and found she enjoyed helping others understand the material as well.

“Helping people succeed in various biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses was very rewarding. Plus, when you are able to explain something to someone else, it helps you to truly understand it,” she said.

She is currently in the process of applying to medical schools and would like to eventually practice medicine in Sacramento. She would like to stay active in education and academic medicine throughout her career.

A native of Wheatland, CA Lexi enjoys cooking, reading, and doing yoga when she isn’t teaching or studying.

Alex grew up surrounded by the natural beauty and vibrant culture of the San Francisco Bay Area’s Marin County. Even after travelling around the world, he still hasn’t found a reason to leave.

He was a gifted writer and AP student at San Rafael High School, and spent his extracurricular hours training and teaching Shao-Lin Kempo and obsessively practicing the guitar. Having enjoyed the sciences, he chose to major in chemical biology at UC Berkeley, where he tutored other college students in chemistry, biology and math. Alex participated in academic research, and volunteered with homeless community healthcare programs. He graduated in May 2011.

Since graduation, Alex has spent time working as a biomedical researcher in pharmacology and immunology, an illustrator for a science education nonprofit, and a graphic/web designer.

Alex has experience tutoring students in geometry, algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, physics, as well as general and organic chemistry. He is passionate about providing leadership of the highest quality, and believes that self-confidence and intense enthusiasm for life and learning can take a student very far.

In his downtime, Alex can be found running the trails and streets of San Francisco, tirelessly swimming laps in a pool, serenading his captive roommates, cooking delicious and unorthodox meals for friends and family, and creating artwork when inspiration strikes.

Balance, happiness and relentless improvement are his core pursuits. He strives to live by this quote: “Every moment of your life is either a test or a celebration.”

Rachel graduated from St. Francis High School – an all girls, college preparatory school located in California – with awards and honors of excellence in every subject.

During her time at Saint Francis she competed in Three Day Eventing, a strenuous discipline of horseback riding that requires dedication and diligent training. She then moved to Fort Worth, Texas to attend Texas Christian University. She has repeatedly made the Dean’s List at TCU and graduated in May of 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Sociology.

Rachel held leadership positions at TCU as an Ambassador and as President of People for Animal Well-Being, all while managing to launch and accelerate her modeling career. She has also recently been promoted to Captain of the Dallas Cowboys Promotions Team.

Rachel’s diverse experiences both on and off the college campus have demonstrated her drive to succeed as well as her leadership capabilities. Prompted by desire to mentor high school students, Rachel joined ESM. Between high school and college Rachel has tutored nearly every subject as well as the SAT and ACT. She believes a balanced lifestyle and organization are crucial to success. She enjoys the occasional bacon avocado cheeseburger in between photoshoots and tutoring appointments.

Allie graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a major in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in Neuroscience from Duke University. She was awarded the Judith McDade Prize for most distinguished undergraduate in the Cultural Anthropology department.

While she entered college intending to pursue a career in medicine, she discovered a greater love of cultural anthropology, social research, and writing. She was able to synthesize these interests in Togo, West Africa, where she conducted thesis fieldwork on the indigenous medical system of a rural farming village.

Allie plans to pursue her Ph.D. in medical anthropology and is particularly fascinated by the field of integrative medicine. She hopes to teach at the university level someday.

After spending a year in Boulder, CO working in the brand strategy world, Allie moved back to Oregon and now lives in the Portland area, where she currently mentors students. While teaching, Allie feels the most alive and present. She believes teaching is less about conveying information and more about creating a space where students can come to their own realizations and discoveries. Allie loves to play a role in creating that space and empowering those moments of insight.

Outside the life of the mind, Allie enjoys any and all physical activity and outdoor adventure. She is happiest out on an open trail, camera in hand. She discovered a passion for the sport of triathlon in college, served as president of Duke’s Triathlon Club, and recently competed in her first Half Ironman. She is also studying to become a certified yoga teacher.

Alex Afsahi is ESM UK’s Senior Academic and University Mentor. Alex’s role is to serve students pursuing higher education in the United States and to develop ESM’s presence in the UK community.

Alex graduated cum laude from Yale University with a degree in history and holds an MSc in Comparative and International Education from the University of Oxford. He was raised in San Diego and attended The Bishop’s School in La Jolla where he was a National AP Scholar and member of the varsity soccer and golf teams. Following his admission to Yale, Alex walked on to the varsity soccer team where he earned the Frank Dunne Award as the Most Improved Player in his sophomore season and the Francis Gordon Brown Memorial Prize as the top student-athlete in the junior class.

Alex has worked in international education for the past six years. As a graduating senior, he was awarded a Fox International Fellowship by the Yale Macmillan Center for International and Area Studies and relocated to Cape Town, South Africa to pursue public health and education research with the NGO, Grassroot Soccer. Thereafter, Alex shifted his focus to educational reform and teaching, first managing a remedial literacy program in a township school, and then teaching at the American International School of Cape Town where he also did SAT/ACT tutoring and university counseling. Alex moved to the UK in 2013 to begin his Masters at the University of Oxford and is now teaching at the American School in London.

Alex has worked with dozens of students preparing for the SAT and ACT and loves helping students discover their own right-fit college.

Tarah has always been interested in learning about how things work, most especially, how the earth works. Beginning in high school Tarah took every Honors and AP science & math class she could fit into her schedule…and had a tutor for almost every one of them! She found that tutoring helped her to understand the science and math material on a deeper level and gave her increased confidence in her knowledge of various subjects. Tarah continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania where she pursued a double major in Environmental Studies & Political Science while also playing on the Division I Women’s Lacrosse team. The team advanced to the NCAA Finals her senior year, but lost. She is still upset about this.

After college, Tarah stayed at UPenn to complete a Master of Science in Geoscience where she also worked as a Teaching Assistant for the Earth & Environmental Science Department. Since moving to San Francisco four years ago, she has worked as a Geologist in the field of environmental consulting. She also spent a year employed by the Sylvan Learning Center, tutoring students of all ages in various subjects and test-prep courses.

In her free time, Tarah enjoys reading a lot of sci-fi & fantasy books, playing lacrosse, eating pizza, and obsessing over cute dogs. She is currently in the process of transitioning into a career in teaching. She hopes to begin a credential program in 2015 and looks forward to sharing her love of science and learning with students!

After graduating as a valedictorian from Adolfo Camarillo High School, Jordan attended UC Davis to major in Animal Science and pursue her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian. However, much to her surprise, she discovered her love for economics during her first year of college and decided to pursue a business major instead. In June 2014, Jordan graduated in the top of her class with a degree in Managerial Economics and minor in Communication.

During her last year of college, Jordan worked as a peer adviser in the Dean’s Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and loved helping new students pursue their interests and choose their majors. She also tutored for an upper division statistics class. She finds great joy in sharing her experiences with others and helping students succeed academically. In particular, Jordan enjoys tutoring for the ACT and SAT, algebra, calculus, statistics, English, and writing. Currently she lives in Davis, CA and works in the Sacramento area.

Born and raised in southern California, Jordan would spend every day at the beach if she could. In her free time, she loves to paint, play ultimate frisbee, and dance around the house by herself.

Fun fact: Jordan is an avid concert goer and has seen over 50 bands play live.

Austin Copp is currently in his senior year working towards a degree in bioengineering from UCLA.

Austin found a love for mentorship and tutoring while helping his four younger siblings in southern California in a variety of different academic subject areas growing up. In addition to this, he has been tutoring young men and women since his freshman year of high school, giving him a breadth of experience to draw from when connecting with his mentees.

Austin graduated among the top of his class from Coronado High School in sunny San Diego where he was the captain of the varsity football squad.

At UCLA, Austin is involved with several groups on campus and volunteers ten or more hours a week working in a tissue engineering research lab in the school of dentistry. In his free time, you would most likely find Austin surfing in Malibu or out playing intramural sports with friends.

Monica

Kendall

Portland, OR

As a Portland native, Monica has had plenty of rainy days spent indoors reading. All of her time spent as a bookworm created in her a great love for adventure and learning. She loves hiking, playing her guitar, and hanging out with her adorable miniature australian shepherd. She also loves teaching.

Monica believes that education is at the heart of personal growth. She feels that studying for math, for example, is valuable in that math actually teaches you how to solve problems creatively and how to remain logical under pressure. She aims to help her students see the value in learning for the sake of learning itself.

As a mentor, Monica does this by guiding students through the learning process in an empathetic and compassionate way that is compatible with each individual’s strengths. She believes that learning can be fun if it’s done in a way that encourages students to think without fear of thinking incorrectly. Students are encouraged to explore new concepts while treating mistakes as opportunities for learning and improvement.

Monica attended Central Catholic High School where she was a dedicated student-athlete. It was only in her senior year that she learned how to enjoy math. She went on to receive a bachelors in mathematics at the University of Portland. Monica has worked as an academic mentor and college counselor for the last several years, and is committed to helping students find their strengths and develop their passions. Families seek Monica out for help in getting the most out of education through academic tutoring, SAT/ACT test prep, and college counseling.

Cailean Bailey is a college counselor specializing in the NCAA student-athlete recruitment process.

Cailean comes to ESM after working as an assistant soccer coach at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA and prior to that at Yale University from 2011 to 2014. He was active in the recruiting process at both NCAA Division I schools.

In his three years as a college counselor on the east coast he led seminars on the applications process and how student-athletes can effectively market themselves to potential college coaches.

“I always strive to get to know each player I've coached on a personal level so that we can develop the relationship beyond the field,” he said. “My philosophy in coaching has always been about personal and social development.”

An Illinois native, Cailean holds an undergraduate degree from Illinois College and a master’s degree in sports administration from Valparaiso University.

He points out that in his three seasons as a soccer coach at Yale, the team never lost to Harvard.

Matt Segasture graduated from the George Washington University in 2009 majoring in History and earning a minor in Japanese Language. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he spent one year abroad at Sophia University in central Tokyo. He has spent most of his post-collegiate years in the field of education teaching students ranging in age from three to eighteen. During high school he took seven different advanced placement courses in a variety of subjects including biology, English literature, Spanish, and U.S. history, entering university with over 20 credit hours. He loves learning languages, having already mastered Spanish and Japanese, and traveling. In August of 2012, Matt passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test for the level N1, certifying his fluency. He is also a first degree "black belt" in the Japanese martial art of kendo (although there are no belts actually worn). Matt is new to ESM, but he always seeks to make a connection with students, and ensure that they fully grasp the material they are learning. In his free time, he loves to watch movies, listen to music, reading, and sight-seeing.

Matt Wright graduated from Cornell University with bachelor degrees in government and Asian studies. While at Cornell, he undertook the FALCON Chinese and Japanese intensive language programs where he studied each language for one calendar year and also studied abroad in both China and Japan. After graduating, Matt participated in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program where he taught English to a wide range of students from pre-school to junior high in rural Wakayama, Japan. During his three years in the program, Matt created a preparatory program at the junior high school for a national English examination and was active in promoting international exchange programs for his students.

Upon finishing, Matt enrolled in Vanderbilt University’s Peabody School of Education where he completed a Master of Education degree in Higher Education Administration with a focus on international higher education. Throughout his tenure at Vanderbilt, Matt worked at the Office of International Students & Scholars, the English Language Center, and U.S.-China Center for Education and Culture in Guangzhou, China. Furthermore, he completed an internship in the Press and Cultural Sections of the Embassy of the United States in Tokyo where he worked on promoting higher education exchanges between Japan and the U.S.

Having now joined ESM as an Academic Mentor, Matt specializes in the humanities and tutoring local Japanese students. He will help lead ESM’s expansion into the local Japanese mentoring market and continue to build strong relationships between Japan and the world.

Ryan guides ESM students through personal statements, extended essays, and college applications. He studied Narrative Theory and Creative Writing at Colorado College, and emphasizes personal voice. He has published two original plays and several short stories.

He has five years of experience tutoring high school students, and leads a workshop at Launch pre-college academy in the summers. He empowers students with the writing skills and creative thought to extend this self-discovery process.

Raymond attended St. Patrick's - St. Vincent High School, where he graduated with honors in math and science. He participated in several leadership clubs and was a member of the varsity golf team. After graduating high school, Raymond attended the University of Pacific, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in bioengineering. During college, Raymond became a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national fraternity dedicated to community service and leadership building.

Since 2011, Raymond has worked as an academic tutor for the Community Youth Center in the bay area. He has had experience tutoring a variety of math and science subjects, including physics, calculus, chemistry, and biology. During summers, Raymond works as a program coordinator for Camp F.U.N. (Fitness and Understanding Nutrition), a summer camp run in conjunction with the Healthy Hearts Program. The summer camp aims to help children aged 8-12 develop healthier lifestyles through sports, exercise, and diet.

Josh graduated from St. John’s International School in Waterloo, Belgium in 2005 after completing a well-rounded combination of IB and AP courses. He spent one year at the Hun School of Princeton prior to attending Yale University, where he majored in History. Josh’s time at Yale was highlighted by being a 4-year member of the varsity basketball team, which made him appreciate the power of dedicated teamwork in the quest of a common goal. He was also Student Recruitment Coordinator for the Yale Admissions Office, mentor for an inner-city extracurricular program, and a leader of several cultural organizations.

The groundwork for an interest in education was laid early, as both of Josh’s parents have been educators for 30 years. Beginning with tutoring younger students in his middle and high school days, Josh continued teaching every summer during college, and following university as well.

He has taught a wide range of subjects from social studies, English, French, and history, to physical education and music. He believes every academic subject offers its own unique way of communicating different life lessons and values to young people. Getting students to become aware of this concept is a challenge he truly enjoys.

Josh is based in London where he is currently the Managing Director for the ESM Group in the UK. He enjoys helping international students with their dreams of studying in the United States, coaching two successful basketball programs, and learning the most important life lesson of them all: how to take care of his new baby boy.

Born in crowded Hong Kong to British and American parents, Ben's family moved to California when he was still a toddler. Ben grew up among the redwoods on top of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County. After graduating from Tamalpais High School, he attended San Francisco State University where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in philosophy.

Ben discovered his love of teaching as a graduate student, where he taught undergraduate courses in critical thinking and introduction to philosophy. Ben works closely with his students to make complex concepts tangible by tailoring his approach to each student's individual interests and learning style.

Ben is an active member of Northern California's competitive gaming and eSports community, participating in events and tournaments around the west coast. Currently residing in San Francisco, Ben spends most of his time with his girlfriend Kat and their pug Icarus planning their move to Marin, where they soon hope to make their home.

Liz grew up on the family mint farm in Kalispell, MT before moving to the Portland area in time for her to complete eighth grade and high school. In 2007, Liz graduated from Westview High School in Beaverton as one of her class valedictorians. She then attended Chapman University in Orange, California where she devoted her time to the study of European history and Germanic studies. Her senior thesis entitled "Save One Life, Save the World Entire: The Nicholas Winton, Leila Weil-Hart Kindertransport Story" was awarded several research prizes as well as presented to Holocaust memorial institutions nationwide.

After graduating with honors in 2011, Liz moved to Greenville, AL as a Teach for America corps member. There, she taught courses in algebra, geometry, American history, world history, and contemporary issues at Greenville High School. In 2014, Liz moved to Kosice, Slovakia where she taught English as a Second Language as a Fulbright Fellow for one semester.

Liz recently moved back to the Portland area where she hopes to engage in her passion for hiking and being active in nature. She has run one half marathon a year for the past three years, and hopes to continue this trend until she can no longer run. Liz loves working with high school students, seeking to find the best qualities in each student to partner with them to reach their fullest potential.

Though Jazmyn wasn’t born in Phoenix, she considers herself to be a Phoenix native. Not only does she love the Arizona Cardinals and find 80 degrees dreadfully cold, she bleeds maroon and gold as an Arizona State University alumnus.

Jazmyn graduated Summa Cum Laude from ASU in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in communications. In college, Jazmyn was involved in Psi Chi, Phi Theta Kappa, and Golden Key Honors Society. Jazmyn also played college soccer at Mesa Community College and played club soccer at ASU, as well.

After her playing career ended, Jazmyn developed a passion for coaching soccer. Currently, she coaches club soccer at Ahwatukee Foothills Soccer Club and varsity soccer at Mountain Pointe High School.

Through coaching, Jazmyn gained a desire to help high school students prepare for college. She has tutored a number of high school students in courses ranging from trigonometry to Spanish; and she has mentored student athletes to help them find the right-fit college, academically and athletically. Jazmyn has worked as a tutor since 2011 and a substitute teacher since 2013. Her favorite subject is math, specifically statistics; and she speaks Spanish as her second language.

Outside of the classroom, Jazmyn still enjoys playing soccer as well as watching musical performances and sporting events, particularly the LA Lakers.

Currently a candidate for a Master’s in Science at the University of San Francisco, Chelsea been captivated by a wide-variety of subjects throughout her academic life. In high school at Notre Dame Belmont, Chelsea found she had an aptitude for math, and for teaching the subject to others. In her senior year she began tutoring fellow high school students in algebra, pre-calculus, geometry, and biology. She also speaks French and Spanish. While in high school Chelsea also volunteered hundreds of hours to a variety of nonprofit organizations.

Chelsea attended Wake Forest University where she majored in chemistry with a specialization in biochemistry and minors in both biology and music. During her time as an undergraduate she worked in multiple labs alongside professors and graduate students. It was while conducting this research that Chelsea decided to continue her study of chemistry by perusing her MS in the field. She hopes to continue at a doctoral program once she has completed her current degree.

Always a music enthusiast Chelsea, hasn’t stopped playing the piano since she was three. She also held the position of music director at her campus’ radio station. She relaxes by exercising with her sheltie, and trying new flavors of juices.

Colin has always had a love for learning and education. As an undergraduate at Yale University, Colin studied psychology and was selected for membership into Psi Chi, an honor society for psychology majors. While a student, he also pursued his love of music, eventually becoming the principal clarinetist and concertmaster of the Yale Concert Band. He has performed in countries across Europe, in Mexico, and in New York's Carnegie Hall.

After graduating in 2011, Colin moved back home to the Bay Area and began tutoring. Since returning from college, he has worked with more than 100 middle and high school students, tutoring them in subjects ranging from freshman English to AP Physics. He particularly loves helping students to develop their college application essays, a critical part of the application process. Colin's students have attended a number of prestigious colleges, including Georgetown, UC Berkeley and Cornell.

Currently, Colin is a student at UC Berkeley Extension, finishing prerequisites to apply to medical school. He hopes that, as a physician, he will be able to educate patients while working in a field that will allow and encourage him to be a lifelong learner himself. In his spare time, he enjoys playing music, bowling, and riding his motorcycle at local racetracks.

Edward graduated from Yale in 2012 with a major in history. To complete his major, he researched and wrote an 80-page thesis on African American religious history. At Yale, he was the captain of the club basketball team and was a part of a tutoring/mentoring organization that worked with high school students in New Haven, CT.

After Yale, he was accepted into Teach for America and taught three years in Oakland Unified School District. As a tutor, he loves making learning fun and motivating his students to do their best.Edward firmly believes in building strong relationships with his students. Although he is not their teacher anymore, he still mentors and meets with his former students.

When he isn’t tutoring, Edward is pursuing a career as an actor and plans to get his MFA in the near future. He currently lives in Oakland, CA.

After graduating from Yale with a B.A. in Psychology, Claire joined Teach for America and moved to New Orleans. There she caught the teaching bug taught high school science for 4 years. As department chair she honed her knowledge of all things science and led her school in an ACT prep push. Her students repeatedly scored at the top of the district. Some of her proudest moments were seeing her students graduate and head on to top universities.

Originally from Long Beach, Claire felt the pull back to the west coast. Before arriving in the Bay Area, Claire and her (now) fiancée rode a tandem bicycle along the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Canada. Two months of camping, pedaling, and being two feet away from someone have made her ready to get back to what she loves: working with students.

Having attended an intense college prep high school, Claire personally knows the impact a strong mentor can have in easing stress and boosting performance (particularly in that demanding junior year). She works hard to help her students reach their academic and personal goals.

When she’s not working with students, Claire enjoys crafting, cooking, and all kinds of games. She currently lives in Oakland and tutors across the Bay Area.

Justin graduated from UC Irvine with a B.A. in sociology, and further developed his knowledge in math and physics while studying civil engineering. I

Justin has been helping students achieve academic goals since 2010. With an ability to simplify and communicate concepts, Justin is able to facilitate a comfortable learning environment. Through empathy, he is able to connect with students and build a trusting, understanding relationship. Some of the subjects he tutors include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, physics, and the ACT/SAT.

Outside of education, Justin volunteers in mental health services. A continuing focus in his life revolves around growth for himself and others around him. His capacity for recognizing and reinforcing people's strengths and potential has provided him the opportunity of having fulfilling interactions in and outside of work.

In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, basketball, and spending time with his dogs.

Paige has been tutoring high school students in math and science for several years, and particularly enjoys helping students simplify the many details involved with these subjects. She tutors in biology, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, Spanish, chemistry, and the ACT and SAT.

Paige attended Harvard University where she majored in Psychology and minored in Spanish. In addition to playing volleyball for Harvard, she was vice president of her sorority, conducted research projects, planned leadership conferences, and volunteered at an animal shelter.

Working with animals reminded Paige of her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian, ultimately prompting her to switch career paths. After graduating from Harvard in 2012, she decided to enroll in a post-baccalaureate program to fulfill the science & math courses required for entrance to veterinary school. Paige returned to California in 2013 and completed the post-baccalaureate program at Scripps College in 2014. She is currently a first year veterinary student at UC Davis.

Krista graduated in 2015 from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s of science in animal science and minor in business administration. Throughout her undergraduate career, she was very active in student leadership organizations as well as the Pre-Veterinary Society. With a passion for furthering education, she has consistently mentored and tutored her peers through classes such as math, biology, chemistry, physics, English, business courses, and many more.

At an early age, Krista realized her passion for animals and helping those around her. While she has always had her heart set on becoming a veterinarian, she enjoys tutor and mentoring other students while achieving her other goals. After graduating from Texas A&M, Krista started her veterinary education at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. While attending veterinary school, she has continued to tutor other students and is passionate in in her mentorship work.

In her free time, Krista enjoys volunteering at various animal-related events, playing soccer, running, and taking time to relax with friends and family.

Raised in Idaho, Ellie grew up surrounded by nature and developed a love of science. When she wasn’t exploring the great outdoors, she could be found building things in her garage, or drawing plans for her latest inventions. As she entered high school, she was sure that she wanted to study engineering or design, but upon entering college she quickly realized how many options she had yet to explore.

At Boise State University Ellie became involved in leadership and psychology electives that fostered her commitment to not just her projects, but also to the people in her life. The most memorable part of her college experience involved mentoring at-risk youth at a low-income school, and observing the students’ confidence develop. Following the mentorship class, Ellie worked as an academic tutor for high school students in the Boise area. Her favorite part of the work was seeing a student light up when they understood a difficult concept. These enlightening moments not only helped the student achieve academic success, but also helped them feel more capable and comfortable in school. Ellie graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology.

Following college, Ellie continued tutoring and moved to Seattle to further her education in the field of bio-mechanical engineering. She feels that it is a perfect blend of her passions and strengths and hopes to engineer prostheses for humans and animals when she finishes the degree. In the meantime, Ellie continues to enjoy mentoring students and helping them discover their own passions and strengths and improve academically.

Ellie believes that her high school, college and post-graduate experiences have given her insight and understanding to both the trials and rewards of being a student. She loves being a mentor for students and lending holistic, genuine support. She is incredibly thankful for the mentorship that she received throughout her own learning experiences and is excited to contribute positive guidance to her ESM students as they build bright, unique and fulfilling futures.

A Northern California native, Jake had dreams of attending UC Berkeley and ESM helped make that a reality. At Berkeley, he studied molecular biology, joined the leadership of a premedical fraternity, and became a mentor for the Phoenix Scholars, helping first-generation minority students navigate the college application process.

During school breaks Jake took every chance he could to explore the world. In his sophomore year he spent the winter interning at a hospital in northern China and the summer traveling through Europe. After graduating from Berkeley in May of 2015 Jake and three friends backpacked through Southeast Asia for two months.

As much as he loves the nomadic life, Jake is back in the Bay Area and more excited than ever to be absorbed in academia, tutoring in a multitude of subjects. When he isn’t working with students, Jake can be found exploring the city, eating too much food, drinking too much coffee and photographing everything. He’s thrilled to now be an ESM academic mentor, giving back to students after ESM helped him reach his goals.

Ever since she was a child, Greta has been passionate about learning. During her time at Grant High School in Portland, Greta participated in a number of clubs, from the Constitution Team, Wind and Jazz Ensembles, Band Council, as also the National Honor Society.

Motivated to challenge herself at all subjects, Greta attended the Honors College at the University of Oregon, where she wrote and defended a 70-page thesis about the Common Core math standards. Eager to help others succeed in school, Greta jumped at any opportunity that allowed her to help students recognize their own goals. This included volunteering more than 100 hours through HEP, a bilingual non-profit that helps Mexican migrants received their GED, at the NAACP, working as a teaching assistant in the math department, and serving as the Leadership Development Coordinator for her community service group.

Greta’s dream is to become a bilingual math teacher at the high school and college level. Currently, she is also working at an elementary school, and as a part time graduate student at Portland State University. In her spare time Greta loves salsa dancing, reading fantasy novels, singing in her car, and exploring culture through food.

Born in San Francisco, Ronald is no stranger to different cultures. He often finds himself discovering new things to explore in his native city. Desiring not to stray afar, he decided to attend San Francisco State University where he majored in microbiology and minored in chemistry. It was there where he discovered his passion for helping others. Diverting his energy from studying the molecular properties of important human genes, he set his sights on changing the lives of those around him.

Ronald is currently working towards admittance to medical school. He also tutors underprivileged children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco. He helps students from elementary to high school in subjects ranging from English, history, algebra, pre-calculus, biology, chemistry, and physics. Using a meticulous, hands-on approach to learning, students benefit from Ronald’s teaching style through the use of illustrations and vivid metaphors. He re-enforces autonomy and critical thinking skills in those with whom he works.

In addition to his academic endeavors, he is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician and spends the remainder of his time volunteering at UCSF Medical Center. Whether he is helping a young student gain academic insight or assisting an elderly patient, Ronald gains satisfaction knowing that he is shifting the course of people’s lives.

On his free time, he enjoys expanding his culinary repertoire, finding new places to hike, and keeping up with his favorite local sports teams.

Born and raised in California, Vency grew up traveling around the world with her adventurous parents. Her favorite travel destination is Japan, for its delicious food, friendliness of the people, and, not to mention, the myriad of sidewalk vending machines.

She first fell in love with tutoring while working with collegiate athletes, where she discovered she could inspire others to succeed with her optimism and persistence in education. Her favorite aspect of tutoring is mentoring students through difficult concepts and seeing them thrive. She currently enjoys tutoring students of all ages in subjects including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, and the ACT.

Having graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in neurobiology, physiology, and behavior, Vency is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in physical therapy at Chapman University. She hopes to serve the community by helping them recover from injuries, and educating them about the importance of exercise and using proper techniques to avoid future injuries.

When Vency’s not at work or studying, you can find her at the rock climbing gym, the park, or home catching up on her favorite TV shows.

Sara's educational philosophy centers around the idea that the most successful teachers have patience, optimism and dedication.

Sara started tutoring during her first year of college, and instantly fell in love with teaching. She believes that helping students reach their potential is one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can have.

Sara received her bachelors degree in mathematics/economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. She maintained excellent grades in college while balancing her time between clubs and organizations, as well as her sorority. After graduation, Sara continues to maintain balance in her life by focusing both on work and other hobbies.

When she’s not in the classroom and working with students, Sara enjoys hiking, going to the beach, and learning how to play the guitar.

Dickson grew up in Washington, D.C., where he attended Georgetown Day School. He captained the soccer team and served as the school’s Student Staff Council President. After graduating, he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in English. Before graduating in 2011 with Honors and Highest Distinction, Dickson coached a local youth basketball team.

After graduating he worked in D.C. as a tutor and then for a global health non-profit. In 2014, Dickson moved to the west coast to attend UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where he is currently an MBA/MPH candidate.

Dickson tutors SAT, ACT, AP Statistics and other math subjects. He tutors for the same reason he coached: he loves the process of working with a student to devise strategies that put that student in the best position to succeed. When he is not tutoring or doing school work, Dickson is an avid soccer and basketball player, reader, podcast listener, and chaser of his energetic hound pup, Morty.

Rebeca was born and raised in East Texas, but ever since childhood she had her heart set on moving to San Francisco. This happened when she moved to Berkeley to attend Cal. Rebeca double majored in Cognitive Science and South Asian Studies. She enthusiastically participated in extracurricular activities as the fusion dance choreographer for a South Asian dance organization. During her junior year, she began tutoring and mentoring socioeconomically disadvantaged high school soccer players around the Bay Area through a program that was funded by a collective whose mission was to give those students a better chance at higher education.

Rebeca has over six years of experience in test prep and academic tutoring, and she seeks to awaken the same curiosity about the ways things and people work that her education afforded to her. For Rebeca, the old adage holds true: knowledge is power, and people who earn that power can make significant changes in their own lives and communities.

In her free time, Rebeca is a professional henna artist, student of dance, and reads sardonic novels by the likes of Rebeccca Solnit and David Sedaris.

Michelle recently finished her MSc at Imperial College London, where she completed a thesis titled Anthropogenic noise pollution: Understanding the effects of mid-frequency active sonar on Risso’s dolphin behavior. Prior to this she graduated magna cum laude from Yale university with a BA in Film Studies and a concentration in Economics.

Michelle specializes in college test preparation. In high school, she was a National Merit finalist and also received a top score on the SAT. After graduating from Yale, she spent time in Los Angeles tutoring students for the SAT. Her favorite standardized test subject is math.

Outside of academic settings, Michelle is a lover of all things animal, music, and art. She rode horses competitively growing up, and dreams of one day owning a dog again. Currently, she satisfies her need for puppies by fostering when she can.

With over 8 years experience teaching English language arts in New York City, Mairead brings a compassionate and developmental perspective to the art of teaching and mentoring.

Growing up in Wakefield, Massachusetts, Mairead struggled with learning differences and academic plateaus which impacted her comfort in the classroom, but not her passion for learning. With her family’s guidance, she advocated for more support with her studies and began working with tutors and mentors. With renewed focus, she graduated and pursued a bachelor’s degree in writing, literature and publishing at Emerson College in Boston, MA. Mairead’s college program allowed her to travel while intensively studying literature and poetry in programs in London, England and The Netherlands. Post-graduation, she settled in New York City where she began working in social justice and progressive youth development non-profits organizations. Within this industry she began working with high school age activists and decided to enhance her skills as an educator.

After earning a master’s degree in education at Brooklyn College, leading a writing tutoring program with Harlem Children’s Zone, and assisting with a playwriting workshop at the Harvey Milk High School, she began teaching writing, literature, and media arts in public schools in Brooklyn. Her work in the classroom transformed her English literature classes into activist think tanks focused on transformative experiences to encourage students to become lifelong learners.

A wind-in-her-hair type, Mairead is a traveler, beach bum, avid lip syncer and live theatre enthusiast. With relationship building as her primary focus, she continues her work as a drama instructor while leading the cultivation and development at ESM of other educators and mentors.

Still in disbelief over not needing a parka in January, Leah is enjoying her new Bay Area zip code after living in the Boston area for all of her life. Leah attended Berwick Academy, a small private school in the quaint town of South Berwick, Maine. Following this, she went on to the University of New Hampshire where she completed a degree in communication with a minor in classics. While attending UNH was ultimately a wonderful experience, Leah quickly realized she was unprepared for the move from the small community at Berwick to the overwhelming atmosphere at a large public university. Having a tumultuous first year in college gave Leah ample time to reflect on her experiences and draw from them when working with students. After graduation from UNH, Leah took a position caring for a young child with special needs, which helped her to direct her career interests towards helping others. This eagerness to positively impact the lives of those in her community led Leah to enroll at Lesley University, where she completed a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus on School Guidance Counseling.

After graduation from Lesley, Leah began a career as a Guidance Counselor with a STEM focused charter school west of Boston. While there, she was again able to work with a variety of students that were all looking for post secondary plans that would allow them to be happy and successful. Drawing from her internship, career, and life experiences, Leah has a strong understanding of the depth of need of the students she works with, as well as the challenges they face on a daily basis. Everyone’s journey is different, and Leah approaches every situation knowing that, with a little help, each student will find success on their path.

The best part of college counseling for Leah is when her students gets their first acceptance letters. That one moment makes all the stress and bumps in the road worthwhile. Leah believes that the overall college application process should be fun, and knows that the difficult parts are worth it once a student crosses the finish line. Every student is unique, and the planning for their path after high school should be inclusive of their goals, hopes, and dreams.

Outside of working with students, Leah does her best to cook every day like she is on an episode of Chopped, travels whenever possible, and firmly believes that no decade will ever top the 90s.